[AN] Un complexe de loisirs pour la route 23

A township man seeking to build a massive entertainment complex on Route 23 will unveil his revised design Monday night.

Cliff Gallira, former owner of Skater's World in Wayne, first sought approval in July but encountered opposition from residents on Sandra Lane. The street runs alongside the site where the complex would be built: Route 23 south near Black Oak Ridge Road.

Having such a complex in their back yards, said Sandra Lane residents, would be anything but fun.

"Most of the neighborhood feels it's going to be a place for trouble," said Edgar Jimenez, 23 a Sandra Lane resident.

The complex could attract pockets of loitering teenagers, Jimenez said, and increase security concerns around the neighborhood. The now-vacant lot should be used for a learning or education center, or even an artist studio, he said, "instead of a recreation center, which we have plenty of."

Gallira said redesigned plans include such cultural activities. There would be a sculpture garden and an art gallery.

To appease residents, Gallira also made three major structural changes.

To reduce the noise level, he plans to build a 10-inch-thick concrete dome on the side of the building closest to Sandra Lane. The dome would house the roller rink and ball fields, and, more important, would act as a sound barrier, Gallira said.

He moved the outdoor electric go-cart track inside the bunker-like dome and shifted the proposed miniature golf course to the front of the building. It would face Route 23 south and be positioned farther away from homes.

To alleviate congestion and lighting concerns, Gallira added 100 parking spaces to the lot, which would open onto Kennel Road facing the Wayne Lincoln Mercury car dealership. It would now contain 400 spaces, a drop-off area and bus parking, which would be enough to accommodate visitors even at peak times, Gallira said.

The proposed center would cover 110,000 square feet on a 10-acre tract. The site is zoned for commercial use and would not require a variance.

A wooded area in the back of the property contains speckled wetlands. The area would be left untouched, Gallira said.

In an effort to create an environmentally friendly facility, plans include alternative energy sources. Solar panels would be put on the roof and geothermal systems constructed to heat and cool the building. Environmentally safe cleaning products would also be used to create a safer environment for guests and workers, said Steve Gallira, the developer's brother and project designer.

Construction has been estimated at six to eight months if the plan is approved and once all appropriate permits are obtained, Cliff Gallira said.

Gallira will present his revised plans for the site before the Wayne Township Planning Board at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Municipal Building at 475 Valley Road.